DMSO – dimethyl sulfoxide – is NOT a miracle cure, NOT a fad, but an effective healing tool used by athletes, veterinarians and alternative medicine enthusiasts for decades.
When used carefully, following safe guidelines, results can be remarkable.
It is slowly making its way into mainstream medicine with growing research and clinical applications, with one FDA approved treatment. Because there is more patient benefit than profit to be gained, the pharmaceutical industry does not back any research and has lobbied to squelch it in the past.
This article is only meant to be informative and educational, and not as medical advice.
Powerful – take care
DMSO can have unintended uncomfortable effects when used carelessly, like any potent pure compound. Therefore, its uses must be understood and tailored to your needs.
Stories of remarkable recoveries are supported by published research into its anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and tissue-repairing properties.
This compound DiMethyl SulfOxide is classified as a solvent and is both water-friendly and fat-friendly. It dissolves in the fluid of the blood and lymph but also can penetrate cell membranes which are mostly made of fats. This allows it to penetrate the skin, sink deep into tissues, reach the bloodstream, and move almost anywhere in the body. This is part of why it is so powerful and also why users need to have caution.
DMSO will drive anything it is in contact with into the body. Besides gaining the benefits of DMSO itself, this can be useful to deliver medicines. However, anything toxic on your skin will be driven in too, with unintended consequences.
Purity
Purity is the first thing to pay attention to when looking to use DMSO for healing.
First, get pharmaceutical grade DMSO, either 100% or 99.996% pure. There is an industrial grade which is cheaper, but you do not want industrial impurities in your body – and they WILL get inside due to its penetrating power.
Second, you will be diluting it, so be sure your water is pure distilled water, preferably structured. You may also choose aloe vera juice or some other oil or carrier, but be sure they are organic, pure, preservative-free and that you want the effects that they add.
Third, only apply DMSO to clean skin.
If you have sweat, dirt, perfumes, cosmetics or body care products on your skin, it will drive them in too, with unintended consequences. Even the ink from a tattoo can be driven deeper and become a toxin.
Avoid applying anything to your body for 1 to 3 hours after you have applied the DMSO because even traces of deodorant or chemicals from makeup or skin products can be drawn in.
Let the DMSO absorb so your skin appears dry before putting on clothing. Natural fiber clothing which has no detergent residue (consider washing in structured water, just spot cleaning with soap) is the safest for your body in any case.
Next, store DMSO in an air-tight dark bottle in a cool dry place, between 59 – 86 degrees F. It will break down with light and heat and will be diluted by absorbing atmospheric water. It will crystalize at 65 degrees F, and if you find it frozen, just let it warm up naturally and the crystals will dissolve, no harm done.
Glass is best for mixing DMSO with your dilutant, however safe plastics like HDPE, PETE or polypropylene can be used (notably to cap glass bottles.) Do not use any metals or reactive plastics. Keep your tools clean be mindful of clean practices when handling it.
Precautions
Because DMSO contains molecules of sulfur, people who are allergic to sulfa drugs or sulfites in wine might think they should avoid it. The distinction is that people can be sensitive to sulfa drugs, sulfites, or sulfates, which are compounds and this is elemental sulfur. Indeed, the element sulfur is an essential component of your body and is part of many antioxidant molecules, including glutathione which your body makes.
Because absorbed DMSO causes blood vessels to dilate, increasing blood flow, you can notice a temporary warmth, redness, itching, or even stinging sensation which fades within minutes. To reduce irritation, start with a lower concentration, use a more dilute solution for sensitive skin such as on the face, and consider diluting DMSO with pure aloe vera juice instead of distilled water.
People who are sensitive can test on a small area and wait 20 minutes to see what happens before applying it to larger areas. Always take into consideration both concentration and the total amount applied over how big an area for your dosage and adjust accordingly.
DMSO supports the detoxification system, and pushing it with high concentrations, large amounts, and frequent applications can overwhelm this system. Fatigue, headaches, skin changes, and digestive upset are signs that toxins are not leaving the body as fast as they are pushed into circulation. The solution is to slow down and support detoxification in an appropriate way.
If you notice a garlic-like taste in your mouth or odor emanating from your skin after applying DMSO, this is because your body has metabolized it into dimethyl sulfide. This is a sign that it is rapidly distributed throughout the body, and the odor will fade over time. If it is strong and bothersome, consider applying at night so that the odor is gone by morning.
Note that if you are taking prescription drugs, DMSO can increase absorption of them, raising blood levels in an unintended way. This goes for NSAIDs as well as sedatives, steroids, blood thinners, insulin, really any prescription drug. Always consult your medical provider before you combine DMSO with prescribed drugs.
There is not enough reliable research on using DMSO during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so it’s safest to avoid it then.
Caution is advised with people with chronic liver or kidney disease. Long-term DMSO use can put a strain on the liver and kidneys, so organ function should be monitored and usage adjusted.
Versatile
For any condition in which there is pain, consider using DMSO. It has a direct effect on nerve signaling as well can get to the cause of pain.
Pain most often comes from acute or chronic inflammation, and that is exactly what DMSO addresses. In addition, it can help repair tissue destruction that caused or was a result of inflammation. Also, it provides antioxidants which help calm inflammation. On top of that, DMSO improves circulation to deliver nutrients and healing elements and remove toxins from the area.
You can see how all this applies to sports injuries and common overexertion. DMSO not only penetrates deep to reach muscles, but can help tendons, bursa, and other connective tissues.
Are you now imagining to also use it for carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis and plantar fasciitis? Keep broadening your view of how it can be used. DMSO preparations in gels or roll-on are popular for this kind of use.
And what about the various kinds of arthritis – osteo and rheumatoid? They have these mechanisms in common. Back pain, chronic pain syndromes, peripheral neuropathy, tension and migraine headaches . . . and on and on.
People have used it for conditions as diverse as:
- burns
- cuts, scrapes
- to aid wound healing (mostly around the wound, not in it)
- skin rejuvenation
- scar reduction
- psoriasis, eczema
- acne, rosacea
- hair growth
- nail fungal treatment
- varicose veins
- eyes: glaucoma & cataracts
- ears: infection & tinnitus
It warrants a little more research into each application to discover the dilutions and how to apply it and what to avoid. The National Library of Medicine has a plethora of articles, reviews and clinical trials on DMSO.
In the meantime, you can play with it with caution.
General Use Guidelines
- Less is more – both in concentration and in quantity you use. (See Powerful section)
- The best results come from safe, consistent use. (see Precautions)
- Keep everything clean – this is worth repeating: keep your skin, tools & source bottle clean. (see Purity)
The dilution is everything. Most often DMSO is best used in a 40% to 80% concentration.
Adjust it after a patch test. If there is too much stinging, itching, or redness, reduce by 10% and try again.
Use the most dilute on sensitive skin like inner arms and the face. Use a little more concentrated solution on thicker skin like elbows, the bottoms of feet and scars.
| 20% – 40% – 50% DMSO | to start, sensitive skin, children, animals |
| 60% – 70% DMSO | normal skin on adults |
| 80% DMSO | tougher skin like bottoms of feet, elbows, scars |
Let the DMSO fully absorb for 20 minutes. DO NOT touch the skin. DO NOT put clothes on until it is dry. Your skin is still more permeable for 1 – 3 hours after application, so avoid applying other topical products.
Frequency of application
Again, it all depends! It depends on the concentration, it depends on the condition you are treating, it depends on how sensitive your skin is.
Here is a sample of schedules to see what might be useful for you:
| acute injury (sprain, bruise) | 50% DMSO | every 2 hours for 4 times | then every 4 – 6 hours for 5-7 days |
| shingles: within 48 hrs of outbreak | 50% DMSO | every 4 hours | for 4 days or until resolved |
| nerve pain | 50% DMSO | 4 x day | trial was for 3 weeks |
| osteoarthritis | 40% – 70% depending on skin | 3 x day | trial was for 3 weeks |
With caution and mindfulness, play with it and see what results you get!
And of course, if you would like professional guidance, call me at 928-649-9234 for an appointment.
